Herefordshire Art Week: Group Shows, Gorgeous Settings & Interactive Workshops

Tucked away on the Eastnor Estate, at Lower Mitchell Barns, Colwall Collective's show brings together art and crafts of 14 local creatives for you to enjoy. And if you're visiting the show on the Sunday or Monday, make a day of it with a trip to Eastnor Castle which is just up the road. Explore rich tapestries, medieval armour and fine art or wind your way around the grounds and arboretum. You can also walk in the 300-acre deer park where you might to lucky to catch a glimpse of a red stag.

Take a journey back to the mid 19th century over at the Grade II-listed Lion Ballroom in Leominster. Browse the work of 15 local makers and artists, whose creativity covers everything from paintings and prints to textiles and wood carvings. While you're there, pause for a moment to take in your surroundings, including beautiful plasterwork that has been painstakingly restored to its former glory.

Extend your day in Leomonmster and go a little further back in time with a visit to the group show at the timber-framed Grange Court. Completed in 1633, it's the last known market house to be built by John Abel, a local master carpenter. Nosy around the ceramics, textiles and mosaics on show, before tucking into some scrumptious homemade cake at the onsite café.

Over at Jenny Pickford & Friends' group show, there are loads of ways to get creative yourself. Book a space at one of the workshops and take home a souvenir from your visit. You can try blacksmithing with Jenny Pickford, woodwork with Maurice Clother or willow weaving with Helen Munday. The workshops range from £25 to £50 to make anything from a toasting fork to a foraging basket. If you're just dropping by, check out the gallery inside (jewellery, ceramics, willow and more) and then take a wander among the sculptures in the garden.

If you're in the mood for some wine tasting, head over to Frome Valley Vineyard. A vineyard tour and tasting session costs £20 per person, so book ahead and have something extra to look forward to when you visit the show. Two of the craftsmen, Jonathan Clift and James Boyd, are also offering free workshop demos of blacksmithing and stone carving, so you can see for yourself the intricacy and skill that goes into the fantastic work on display.

Over in Kington, the Yew Tree Collective - a group of five artists and makers living near Huntingdon - are putting on a group show of work inspired by nature and the environment. There, you'll see life-sized welded steel sculptures of birds of prey, deer and hares, alongside delicately rustic stoneware, pressed flower lampshades and carborundum prints. Bring a picnic along on Tuesday 3rd or Friday 6th September to watch Pippa Lloyd fire up her kiln from 6pm.

Canwood Gallery's show is a must for arty gardeners, with a special selection of affordable garden art and sculptures on show during the first two weeks of September. After choosing something for the garden, take a wander through the sculpture park, set in beautiful farmland, to see everything from lifelike driftwood horses to huge, abstract metalwork pieces. Check out the indoor gallery too, and you might see work by world-famous artists during your visit.

For a super diverse taste of Herefordshire art and crafts, take a trip to Ledbury's Take 4 Gallery, where you'll get to explore the work of 22 local artists and makers in one collaborative setting. With a focus on creating affordable, beautifully made and imaginative pieces, the collective have so much for you to see, from raku pottery and metalwork to handwoven pieces and art made from reclaimed objects. Great if you'd like to see a real mixture.

Run by husband and wife team Will and Sophie Rudge, Greenstage Gallery always offers a bright, colourful world to explore. This year the contemporary gallery will be exhibiting at Bromtrees Hall, a wonderful indoor and outdoor space. Expect plenty of statement oil and acrylic pieces here, as well as a range of sculptures. Will has a real love for colour, so if you're looking for a vibrant piece to add to your home, it's worth popping along and seeing what jumps out at you.